AISD gives HUB program final approval

The Austin Independent School District board of trustees unanimously gave its new Historically Underutilized Businesses program and formalized policy the green light at Monday’s regular meeting. Past and present AISD trustees applauded the passage of the program, an effort that began in 2013 with the approval of a joint disparity study with the city and Travis County. AISD’s HUB program is estimated to cost about $631,000 annually, with funding to be pulled from AISD bonds. This year, the program will be implemented for construction contracts only. However, if a district-wide program is implemented in September 2018, Chief Financial Officer Nicole Conley estimated that operation of the program would cost AISD about $956,000 annually. The program requires AISD contractors to employ a certain percentage of HUB firms – which AISD’s policy defines as majority-owned women or minority businesses – or to make a good-faith effort to employ them. That HUB percentage requirement must have statistical backing, which the disparity study helps provide. AISD’s HUB goals for specific minority groups – African-Americans, Asian/Native Americans, women and Hispanics — are listed here.